The MCLS Board of Directors Nominating Committee seeks nominations from the MCLS membership for the following Board openings for 2027-2029: Special Library Representative (Indiana) At-Large Library Representative (Michigan) School Library Representative (Michigan) Each seat serves a three-year term, beginning Jan. 1, 2027, and expiring Dec. 31, 2029. The Board meets four times per year: in …Read more »
Writing a personal remembrance of Randy Riley is something I’d never expected I would do during my career. It’s difficult because his passing was sudden and is so much to process as someone who knew and worked closely with him. It’s also not difficult because of how grateful I am for him and everything he gave so many as a leader and colleague, …Read more »
Things remain busy at MCLS in this time of transitions, and I hope to see many members at the MCLS Annual Meeting on Dec. 2, 2025 at 10 a.m. Eastern (9 a.m. Central) on Zoom (please register here) where topics will include revised MCLS Bylaws and our Board of Directors’ next steps following their September member survey and recent retreat. Following a Board vote on Nov.14 to …Read more »
This month I thank the 232 people who responded to the MCLS Board of Directors’ survey in September, and will share next steps the Board will take. The Board and I really appreciate the data MCLS members took the time to submit, including hundreds of comments. As I mentioned in September, MCLS’s member libraries own MCLS as an organization. According to MCLS’s governance system, …Read more »
By an overwhelming majority vote, our member representatives elected the proposed slate of board members to serve from Jan. 1, 2026 to Dec. 31, 2028. The elected slate includes: Academic Library Representative (MI): Kendra Lake, North Central Michigan College Academic Library Representative (IN): Josh Petrusa, Butler University Libraries Public Library Representative (IN): Melissa Merida Foster, …Read more »
The MCLS Board of Directors Nominating Committee seeks nominations from the MCLS membership for the following Board openings for 2026-2028: Academic Library Representative (Indiana) At-Large Library Representative (Indiana) Public Library Representative (Indiana) School Library Representative (Indiana) Academic Library Representative (Michigan) Special Library Representative (Michigan) Each seat serves a three-year term, beginning Jan. 1, 2026, and …Read more »
Defining the Library Consortium Libraries today operate in complex environments, navigating evolving community expectations, and a growing set of unknowns. Whether large or small, urban or rural, all libraries share the common challenge of delivering high-quality services in a sustainable and impactful way. In this context, library consortia like the Midwest Collaborative for Library Services …Read more »
This month, I’ll feature video of a recent conversation I had with Rima Zalghout, librarian at the Russell J. Abaid Library and Resource Center at the Arab American National Museum in Dearborn, MI. I encourage you to visit the Museum and its library and learn more about the Arab world and Arab Americans’ experiences. The …Read more »
This month, I’d like to introduce the 2025 MCLS Board of Directors and what they do for you, our members who own MCLS. At their fall retreat this past November, I observed the MCLS Board come away with new energy and a sense of purpose for their upcoming plans in 2025. As we continue through …Read more »
Via a unanimous vote in early October, MCLS member representatives elected the proposed slate of board members who will serve from Jan. 1, 2025 to Dec. 31, 2027. The elected slate includes: At-Large Library Representative (IN): Trista Smith, Newburgh Chandler Public Library Research Library Representative (IN): Beth McNeil, Purdue University School Library Representative (IN): Raenell …Read more »
